Moving Pars in the right direction is first target for McPake

JAMES McPAKE has promised to get Dunfermline ‘moving in the right direction’ after replacing John Hughes as manager. The 37-year-old former Dundee boss has been handed the reins following the Pars’ shock relegation to League One. McPake was sacked by the Dark Blues in February but most commentators believed the man who led them into the Premiership deserved more time, with new boss Mark McGhee unable to prevent them falling into the second tier. Now he has signed a contract at East End Park until the summer of 2024, saying: ‘I’m delighted to have been appointed manager at such a prestigious club within Scottish football. ‘It’s been a challenging year for the club but I am excited and optimistic about how we can build the club up and get it moving in the right direction from League One. ‘Over the years, on the pitch and in the opposition dugout, I’ve experienced the strong backing from the stands. The supporters are going to play a key role in this rebuild and it’s vital we are all pulling in the same direction for the start of the season.’ Pars chairman David Cook added: ‘We had a clear idea of what we were looking for in our new manager and we feel James fits the bill very well. ‘Despite his young years, he has more than 100 games under his belt culminating in a promotion to the Premiership with Dundee. ‘He has good experience in developing young players and integrating academy players in to the first-team squad. ‘League One is a clear reset moment for the club and from our conversations with James, it is clear we share the same drive and ambition to help build the club up. Short-term, that means helping get that winning feeling back.’